Regulatory scrutiny in Belgium
UK-based money transfer company Wise is under investigation in Belgium over allegations that its accounts may have been used for money laundering. Belgian prosecutors said the case focuses on Wise’s European operations rather than its UK business. They also noted that the investigation is close to completion and now at an advanced stage.
A spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutor’s office said there are signs of possible anti money laundering failures. These include concerns about weak customer verification and unclear understanding of user activity.
Wise response to allegations
Wise confirmed it is cooperating with the Brussels prosecutor’s office. The company said it regularly works with regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Wise added that information requests from authorities are part of normal financial operations. It said these requests do not automatically indicate wrongdoing or compliance failures.
Reports of suspicious transactions
According to reporting from The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Wise platforms may have been linked to about €500 million in suspicious transactions. These transactions reportedly span around 30 European countries.
Market impact and investor reaction
News of the investigation hit Wise’s market value hard. Shares dropped by around 17.5 percent, briefly wiping more than £1 billion from its valuation.
Market analyst Dan Coatsworth from AJ Bell said uncertainty around the case could weigh on the company. He noted that regulatory concerns could affect both financial penalties and customer trust.
Previous regulatory issues
Wise has faced compliance issues before. In 2024, reports said Belgian regulators found gaps in customer verification, including missing proof of address for many users.
In Abu Dhabi, it also received a smaller fine of $360,000 for compliance failures. Wise said in each case that it worked to fix the issues raised by regulators.
Company position and operations
Its European operations are based in Belgium.Wise said it takes financial crime prevention seriously. Around one third of its global workforce focuses on fraud and compliance protection.
